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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Someone has been breaking the window

Why doesn't exist this sentence?
If there is a vandal, who does this?
Or the window is very hard...
  

Top answer

The act of breaking a single window is normally instantaneous; progressive forms, which are associated with duration, are therefore not appropriate. "Someone has been breaking window s " is possible.

— Fivejedjon

  • The act of breaking a single window is normally instantaneous; progressive forms, which are associated with duration, are therefore not appropriate.
  • "Someone has been breaking window s " is possible.
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3 Answers
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The act of breaking a single window is normally instantaneous; progressive forms, which are associated with duration, are therefore not appropriate.

"Someone has been breaking windows" is possible.
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AnonymousWhy doesn't exist this sentence exist?
But it does exist. Note that in your sentence it's the same person who breaks the same window repeatedly, so presumably the window is repaired between breakings.

Someone breaks the window. Then it is repaired. They break the window again. Then it is repai
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CalifJimSomeone breaks the window. Then it is repaired. They break the window again. Then it is repaired. They break the window. Then it is repaired. And so on.
I didn't think of that.
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